Dushanbe, 17 August 1999 (RFE/RL) -- The Russian border command in
Tajikistan says seven drug traffickers were killed early today, in two
separate clashes on the country's border with Afghanistan. The Russian
command says the clashes occurred three hours apart in the early morning,
230 kilometers southeast of the Tajik capital Dushanbe. The smugglers were
attempting to cross into Tajikistan from Afghanistan with a total of 13
kilograms of heroin, when they were intercepted by the border guards. Since
the start of the year, more than 35 smugglers have been reported killed on
the border and more than 350 kilos of heroin have been reported seized.